Slain sailor's actions 'nothing less than heroic'

NORFOLK — — The 24-year-old sailor killed Monday at Naval Station Norfolk put himself in the line of fire to save a comrade's life in an "incredibly extraordinary" act of courage, a Navy captain said Wednesday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark A. Mayo died after being shot by a civilian who came onboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan and wrestled a gun away from the petty officer of the watch.

Mayo was fatally shot after putting himself between the civilian and the watch officer, said Capt. Robert E. Clark Jr., commanding officer of the world's largest naval base.

The Navy released Mayo's name Wednesday. They have identified the civilian assailant, but did not release his name, although that may be forthcoming soon.

While investigators have pieced together a basic timeline, they still don't know what prompted the civilian to drive on base and approach Pier 1, where the Mahan was docked, and get into a deadly confrontation around 11:20 p.m.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is leading the probe, assisted by the FBI. Preliminary findings indicate it was not a pre-planned attack, said Mario Palomino, NCIS special agent in charge, Norfolk office.

The Navy is also continuing to investigate how the civilian gained access to the base. Clark said the assailant had a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential, but he did not have authorization to be on the Norfolk base. That has prompted an investigation into just how the civilian, who was driving a semi-truck, got past an entrance gate.

Once on base, he drove the 2002 Freightliner to the vicinity of Pier 1 and proceeded up the ramp to the Mahan, Palomino said. There he was confronted by security and a shootout ensued.

"Numerous pistol rounds were fired by the suspect and security forces," Palomino said. At least one member of the security team returned fire with a rifle.

Clark, in describing Mayo's heroism, said the petty officer rushed to aid the petty officer of the watch, who had been disarmed.

"She fell to the ground. He covered her. He basically gave his life for hers," he said.

Mayo was not a member of the Mahan's crew. As chief of the guard, he was attached to naval station security. The Hagerstown, Md., native enlisted in the Navy in October 2007 and reported to Norfolk in May 2011, according to a Navy press release.

Separately on Wednesday, the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command appointed a rear admiral to lead a second investigation into the shooting, apart from the criminal probe from NCIS.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley will conduct a "comprehensive examination" into the shooting to include a review of applicable policies and programs..

Fleet Forces commander Adm. Bill Gortney, who announced the move, said it was "imperative that we are taking all appropriate and necessary measures" to ensure the safety of base personnel and their families.

Meanwhile, sailors onboard the Mahan are coping with the tragedy, said Cmdr. Zoah Scheneman, the ship's commanding officer.

Scheneman thanked the numerous messages of support that have come his way.